June’s pot of the month is this unusual commemorative. This 2¾”/7cm high urn is an early piece, made to commemorate the passing of “The Heroic Emperor Frederick” on 15th June 1888. Besides the Goss backstamp, it also bears an impressed mark. Why a British commemorative for a German Emperor? Probably because he was married to Victoria, Princess Royal, eldest child of Queen Victoria.
Known informally as “Fritz”, he was German Emperor and King of Prussia. He and his wife had intended to rule as co- monarchs, and planned to make radical changes to the way Germany was governed. Their intention was to do away with the office of Chancellor, and establish a British-style cabinet, whose ministers would be responsible to the Reichstag. Unfortunately, Frederick was only Emperor-King for ninety-nine days, before succumbing to cancer of the larynx at the age of 56. Just imagine how history could have changed, had Frederick and Victoria been able to effect their plans.
